I was honored to be a guest on the Moments Of Clarity with Tiffany radio show. We talked about The Flawed Ones, mental health, education, children, veterans and so much more. Download the podcast here!

Being the resident of a psychiatric hospital for a period can definitely bring some perspective to your life, and it was all I needed at the time, perspective. I had been focused on and so overwhelmed by the darkness that I lost all sense of true self; the awareness that I needed a significant shift in perspective, in order to get better.

Back then my life was that of a full-time pill junkie and alcoholic. I didn’t have a job because I couldn’t keep one, I had no money because I didn’t have a job, and whatever pennies I could scrape up were invested in drugs and alcohol. My wife of five years got fed up and walked out the door never to return, she took our one car and our pets. I was left with nothing, I was nothing. My parents were convinced I was going to die; having nothing else left I dedicated myself to my self-destructive vices.
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I had a challenging time with this chapter at the beginning. I wanted to convey the feeling that I initially had when I first walked into the psychiatric floor, but I didn't want it to sound like a horror movie or a fantasy novel. My intention was to put the reader in my shoes, to make them feel what I felt; the fear, how uncomfortable I felt walking in such alien territory, per say. Here is a brief excerpt of the beginning of the chapter, which I hope gives you a thirst for wanting to learn ...

Have you? Something that tortures you constantly but that you cannot escape? Well, for some people that suffer from schizophrenia, this might be the case. We are able to escape, most of the time, our external sources of pain, but when your bully resides in your mind, how do you escape it? The Flawed Ones explore the world of those whose voices won't let them rest, those who fight an evil that cannot be killed or contained. Register today for a chance to win a free copy before release date.

I was very honored to be interviewed by Tabitha on her blog, Tabitha's Books, where I share a little bit more about my writing process, my inspiration and my hopes for this Novel, The Flawed Ones.
Read the Entire Interview Here. Don't forget to leave your comments and see more of Tabi's great book reviews on her site.

Having gone through a whole month of intensive group therapy, joined by many men and women in uniform and listening to their stories and their challenges first hand, I felt the need to touch on this subject in my book, creating the character of Jerry, which exemplifies, in many ways, these men and women that have sacrificed so much and that go through so much. Here is a full chapter of my novel, The Flawed Ones, that allow us to know a little more about Jerry. I hope you enjoy.
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One of the things that I explore in the novel is the feeling of helplessness and lack of purpose that depression brings. I wanted to paint a portrait of what many people simply don't understand, and others excuse as a beg for attention. Depression is not of those things, depression is real and completely misunderstood sometimes. Here is an excerpt from The Flawed Ones. Read it and please let me know, is this this what depression feels like to you?

I talk a little more in depth about The Flawed Ones, and the journey of creating a story that would shed light on mental illness like never before. There is a lot that goes on in this book that I can strongly relate with, and that I hope many of you will as well. At the same time, it always tries to educate the novice reader on mental health, depression, addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and the struggles that these illnesses put some people through.

I saw her face, smiling with that smile that made my knees weak and my heart tremble with a rush of emotion. She connected with my eyes and got lost in hopes and dreams, in plans of a future with good food, far travels, of kisses under the rain and cuddles on those cold nights, where the air smells of wood fire and the breeze turns your cheeks red. In me she saw her every day; getting home from work to a cup of coffee and destressing conversation, walks under autumn leaves and sunsets in the ...